Last night, I watched an amazing game with an incredible ending, and it had nothing to do with the Steelers or Penguins (unfortunately, it also had nothing to do with the Pirates).  When Jimmy Rollins doubled into the right-center field gap, he drove in the run that beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Philadelphia Phillies took a commanding lead in the National League Championship Series.  It was only the third time in major league history that a team was one out away from losing a playoff game, only to get an extra-base hit to win it.   The Phillies, with one more win, will make their second consecutive appearance in the World Series.   Earlier yesterday, there was another amazing game with an incredible ending as the Angels beat the Yankees in 11 innings on another walk-off extra-base hit.  The Angels are alive and kicking in the American League Championship Series.   Two nights ago, there was yet another amazing game with an incredible ending as the Yankees held off the Angels in 13 innings.  Two weeks ago, in a one-game playoff to decide the American League Central, there was one more amazing game with an incredible ending as the Twins held off the Tigers.  Are you starting to sense a trend?  Baseball is often criticized as being too slow and too boring, but the fact is, playoff baseball is anything but slow, and anything but boring.  I agree that it’s too bad we have to wait until the leaves turn colors to experience this kind of drama, but more often than not, it’s well worth the wait.  Baseball is a sport where every player truly counts.  That’s because in baseball, every single spot in the batting order, from the best hitter to the worst, has to take a turn.  It’s also the only sport that doesn’t face a ticking clock.  It could last two hours.  It could last five.   In October, the unique qualities of the sport, along with the high stakes, combine to send the excitement level to new heights.  The strategy is endless.  There are signs from the bench, signs from the catcher, the threat of a steal, the hit-and-run, 100 mph fastballs, and the single greatest challenge in sports, hittingthose fastballs.  There are double plays, two-out rallies, bunts, suicide squeezes, hits, extra-base hits, and home runs.  If you think it’s boring, then you’re not paying attention.  That would be a shame.  Baseball in October is as exciting, or more exciting, than any other sport.   Too bad some fans no longer care, and too bad the Pirates’ invitation seems to have been lost in the mail, again.